COLOR CODE41 (1976) - Medium Lime MetallicChevrolet Touch-Up Paint

The Look

If you are working on a 1976 Square Body, you are dealing with one of the most era-specific colors Chevrolet ever put on a truck. This isn't a neon green or a forest hunter shade; it is a sophisticated, earthy lime that defined the mid-seventies aesthetic. Because it was only available for a single year, seeing this color on a C10, Blazer, or Suburban immediately identifies the vehicle as a true survivor of 1976. Since your truck has likely spent decades facing the sun and the elements, the original finish has probably mellowed, making a careful touch-up essential to maintaining that vintage curb appeal without looking like a mismatched patch job.

Technical Details

This finish is a true metallic, which means it relies on tiny flakes suspended in the pigment to catch the light. Metallics from this era can be temperamental because those flakes like to settle at the bottom of the container or clump together if the application is too heavy. If you apply the paint too thickly in one go, you might notice dark spots or a blotchy effect known as mottling. This happens because the heavy paint stays wet too long, allowing the metallic flakes to sink and shift instead of laying flat. Keeping your coats light and even will ensure the shimmer looks uniform across the panel rather than looking like a striped or "tiger-mottled" mess.

Best Practices

Before you spray or dab Chevrolet Medium Lime Metallic (check for code 41 (1976) on the identification label inside your glove box), you need to shake the container for at least a full minute to get those flakes moving. These heavy pigments love to hide at the bottom, and skipping the shake will leave your color looking flat and dull. Always test the color on the included card first to see how it reacts to your specific lighting. When you are ready to work on the truck, stay in the garage or a patch of shade to keep the metal cool. Apply two or three light, misting layers rather than one heavy one, allowing for plenty of drying time between each pass. Between every few applications, give the container another quick shake to keep the flow consistent and the metallic mix perfectly balanced.